Room status system for hotels

ABSTRACT

A closed signaling system which enables the status of a plurality of rooms in a hotel, motel or motor inn, to be quickly ascertained as to occupancy or service condition from a central station. The system comprises a clerk&#39;&#39;s console at the front desk which is electrically connected to a panel at the cashier&#39;&#39;s station and to either a housekeeper&#39;&#39;s panel or to separate room or floor panels. At the clerk&#39;&#39;s station, cashier&#39;&#39;s station, floor panels, or housekeeper&#39;&#39;s station, rooms are represented on the panels by button-lights incorporating a switch. Each button-light utilizes an ionizing gas glow lamp, such as a neon lamp, that is connected to its own voltage divider circuit, controlling the onoff condition of the bulb. These circuits are interconnected at the various stations in the system so that the light for one room at one station can be controlled by actuation of a switch for the same room at another station. Variations in room panels provide for signaling in different ways to indicate either inspection or occupancy status as well as a maid locator function.

United States Patent [191 Crudgington, Jr.

[4 1 Mar. 12, 1974 ROOM STATUS SYSTEM FOR HOTELS [76] Inventor:Cleveland B. Crudgington, Jr., PO.

Box 836, San Rafael, Calif. 94901 22 Filed: Nov. 5, 1970 [21] Appl. No.:87,248

[52] US. Cl. 340/286 R, 340/332 R [51] Int. Cl. G08b 5/00 [58] Field ofSearch 340/280, 286, 332

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,482,911 2/1924 Catlin340/286 R 2,964,680 12/1960 Irvin 340/332 X 3,141,966 7/1964 Milnes340/332 UX 3,155,957 11/1964 Parissi.... 340/332 X 3,251,050 5/1966Given..... 340/286 R 3,461,444 8/1969 Eisele..... 340/332 R 3,440,6414/1969 Poulosm. 340/311 R 3,525,989 8/1970 Fagan..... 340/286 R2,980,890 4/1961 Staten.... 340/286 X 3,214,747 10/1965 Lurie 340/2863,215,998 11/1965 Cloyd 340/286 3,228,020 1/1966 Gassenheimer... 340/2863,230,520 1/1966 Lurie 340/286 3,254,335 5/1966 Staten 340/286 3,469,2519/1969 Beilfuss 340/280 Primary Examiner-*Harold l. Pitts [57] ABSTRACTA closed signaling system which enables the status of a plurality ofrooms in a hotel, motel or motor inn, to be quickly ascertained as tooccupancy or service condition from a central station. The systemcomprises a clerks console at the front desk which is electricallyconnected to a panel at the cashiers station and to either ahousekeepers panel or to separate room or floor panels. At the clerksstation, cashiers station, floor panels, or housekeepers station, roomsare represented on the panels by button-lights incorporating a switch.Each button-light utilizes an ionizing gas glow lamp, such as a neonlamp, that is connected to its own voltage divider circuit, controllingthe on-off condition of the bulb. These circuits are interconnected atthe various stations in the system so that the light for one room at onestation can be controlled by actuation of a switch for the same room atanother station. Variations in room panels provide for signaling indifferent ways to indicate either inspection or occupancy status as wellas a maid locator function.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures 1E1 HOUSEKEEPER'S PANEL MAID'S FLOOR PANELSl [vi-31 4o l6 COUNTER i q 1 1 J l 3 *1 CLERK'S TO POWER' CASHIERSCONSOLE E81 SUPPLY PANEL I l 1 l PAIENTEDHAR 12 I974 3397.009

SHEET 1 0F 5 HousEKEEPERs MAID'S FLOOR PANELS 4o I L '6 M-2 LCOUNTER 1 rCLERK'S TO PowER CASHIER'S CONSOLE 52y SUPPLY PANEL 1 1 1 lo FIG 1HOUSEKEEPER'S To JZ 'A -S PANEL M 5 ix TO ROOM PNLS M-4 FIRE SENSING ORTv THEFT DEVICE To ROOM PNLS FLOOR ONE PER ROOM M-3 fi TERMINAL F TOROOM PNLS PANELS (INDICATORS LTJ '22 OPTIONAL) To ROOM PNLS-CJ l T0 ROOMRP RP RP RP RP RP M T PANELS e 5 4 3 2 RP 7 a UP 1 1 1 "6 FIRE 0R TVTHEFT EOUNTER E l CLERK'S T0 PowER CASHIER'S CONSOLE g SUPPLY PANEL 1 Il L J INVENTOR CLEVELAND B. CRUDGINGTON,JR

flow gla ATTORNEY PATENTEnnAm m4 3.797.009

sum 5 0r 5 GUEST NAME U ml 0 ADDRESS GUEST NAME ADDRESS GUEST NAME Q g)ADDRESS INVENTOR.

ATTORNE'YS CLEVELAND B. CRUDGINGTON,JR.

This invention relates to a room status system for hotels and the like.

For efficient hotel operations it is essential to provide means fordetermining the status or availability of rooms as guests check in andout. Systems heretofore devised to provide this function required orutilized complicated electronic circuitry and display apparatus.Consequently, they were not only expensive to install but oftenunreliable in operation and also required highly skilled personnel toservice them.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a room statussystem for hotels that utilizes relatively simple electrical circuitsand is therefore particularly well adapted for ease and economy ofmanufacture and installation.

Another object of the present invention is to offer a room monitoring orstatus system for hotels that is highly versatile in providinginformation, and yet a system which requires no complex electronicsignaling components or switching circuits. 7

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that canbe readily expanded through the use of modular construction and plug-inassembly.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a roommonitoring or status system for hotels which includes display panelsutilizing neon lights for showing room status information.

As will be shown, the use of neon lamps as circuit components provides asimple and economical means of transferring indicator information.

Yet another object is to provide a system for monitoring hotel roomsthat operates from ordinary available 110 volt a.c. power but iscompletely safe and compatible with the national electric codes,specifically the articles covering current-limited signaling systems.

The aforesaid and other objects are accomplished by a system thatincludes in its basic form a display console for the desk clerk, anoptional display panel for the cashier, and room panels or floor panelswhich provide housekeeping information. In the system, neon indicatorlamps, used as circuit components, are each connected to and controlledby a voltage divider circuit. Thus, the turning on and off of theindicator lamps throughout the entire system is controlled by themomentary switching of a voltage divider circuit.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description thereof presented inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one form of a room monitoring systemembodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram for the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for another form of room monitoring systemaccording to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram for the system shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4A is a circuit diagram of one form of room panel for the system ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 4B is a circuit diagram of another form of room panel for thesystem of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective showing a front desk console for thesystem of FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 5A is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a portion of the clerksconsole of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a portion of a typicalcashiers or housekeeper '5 panel for the system of FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 7 is a view in elevation showing a typical room panel installationfor the system of FIGS. 3 and 4; and

incorporates vacancy and occupancy indicators with respective circuitry,12 and 14, (See FIG. 2), to illustrate the status of all rooms.Normally, the clerks monitoring console is connected electrically to anoptional panel 13 at a cashiers station which in most larger hotels islocated away from the clerks station, and where guests check out and paytheir bill. The cashiers panel normally would include occupancyindicators and circuitry in parallel with clerks console occupancyindicators. The clerks console or cashiers panel may be directlyconnected to a series of maids floor panels 16, one of which is locatedusually on each floor. Or, as shown, in FIG. 1, the clerks console orcashiers panel may be first connected to a central housekeepers panel 18installed at some convenient location in the hotel. The aforementionedpanels are all supplied with power from a central source 20 and asdescribed below, each has a series of indicator lights or combinationbuttonlight switches which are arranged with adjacent markings thatdesignate a particular room.

The important structural and functional features of the system 10 willbe more readily understood by reference to the detailed circuit diagramof FIG. 2. As

shown, conventional 1 l0 I4 volt a.c. power is sup- I plied to the powersupply unit 20, which rectifies the a.c. input through a pair of leads22 and 24 to provide 7 a d.c. voltage output supply through a pair ofpositive and negative leads 26 and 28. A ground fault protection device30 of any suitable type can be wired by two input leads 32 and twooutput leads 33 to the rectifier 20. If an isolated d.c. lead isaccidentally grounded, causing more than a predetermined amount ofcurrent, i.e., l5 milliamps to flow from the rectifier to ground, thea.c. voltage supply to the rectifier 20 will cut off.

As shown in FIG. 2, the positive d.c. output lead 26 is connected(preferably through a milliamp fuse 34) to a common plus lead 36 thatgoes to the indicator circuitry l2 and to all the floor panels 16 (onlyone of which is shown), as well as the housekeepers panel 18, if used.The negative lead 28 is connected to a common negative lead 38 that issimilarly connected to all of the panels. A counter 40 or some suitableinformation storage or recorder device, preferably used with the system,is connected by a lead 42 through a fuse 43 to the d.c. power lead 26and by leads 44, 46 and 48 to the vacancy indicator switch 78, theoccupancy indicator switch 780 and floor panels indicator switch 78brespectively.

To conserve space, the diagram in FIG. 2 shows only the circuitry forone room at all panels, while in a complete system there would besimilar circuits for all other rooms. In accordance with the presentinvention, each indicator light 50 on all panels is a small ionizing gasglow lamp such as a neon lamp, and each lamp is connected to its owncontrol circuit, which is essentially a voltage divider comprised of apair of resistors 56 and 58. As seen with reference to the clerks panelin FIG. 2, each lamp is in parallel with the resistor 56 and is inseries with the resistor 58. The series resistor 58 is connected to thecommon fused positive d.c. lead 36 whilethe parallel resistor 56 andlamp are connected to the negative d.c. lead 38 through various pushbutton switches 80. The supply voltage between points 60 and 62 and theresistors 56 and 58 are valued so that the applied lamp voltage betweenpoints 64 and 62 is above the lamps maintaining voltage but below thellamps firing voltage. Thus, at any given time under this condition ifthe lamp was already on, it would remain on, or if it was already off,it would remain off. Now, if the parallel resistor 56 is momentarilydisconnected from negative lead 38 by actuation of switch 80b, thevoltage across the off lamp between the points 64 and 62 increases toequal the supply voltage since current flow through series resistor 58ceases. The supply voltage is i set at a level greater than thebreakdown voltage of the neon lamp, thus the lamp will ignite. Once thelamp 50 ignites, its voltage between point 62 and 64 decreases to thelamps maintaining voltage. As will be seen when the entire operation ofthe system is described, the disconnection of the parallel resistor 56is triggered by operation of a button at another station. Extinguishingthe lamp is accomplished by momentarily shorting or disconnecting thelamp circuit between points 60 and 62. This function is triggered byoperation of the switch within the indicator assembly. The lamps andtheir associated control circuits for each room at all panels operate inthe same manner throughout the system 10.

A typical front desk or clerks console 11, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A,comprises a series of card-holder pockets 70 arranged in verticallyaligned columns preferably on 'asloped mounting board 72. These pocketscan be of any suitable material such as metal or plastic and preferablylarge enough to hold standard room rack registration cards 74. The topportion of each each pocket 70. The room number is printed adjacent toeach button. The button lenses are all preferably constructed of atransparent plastic so that light can be transmitted through them fromthe lamps 50 and 50a located within the switch. The lenses may be of onecolor but it is preferable that each column be of a different color todistinguish vacancy from occupancy indicators. The electricalspring-loaded switch mechanism, behind each button, (designated by thenumeral 80 in F IG. 2), will operate to open or close the contacts asthe button is pressed. Such indicator switches are availablecommercially, so their structure need not be described in detail.Preferably, plug-in units with a predetermined number of button switches78 and 78a with their associated circuitry are provided. From a seriesof such plug-in units a console of any size can be easily constructedand additional units can be added when required. I

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 4A and 4B every voltage divider circuit islocated in proximity to the lamp which it operates. As a result, anyinduced line voltages will have no effect on the system operation,particularly lamps in the off state. Extinguished lamps, as well asilluminated lamps, are biased across their respective parallelresistors, and any anticipated induced voltage will cause the resultingcurrent to bleed through these resistive circuits without significantchange in lamp voltage.

The maids floor panel 16 14, as shown in FIG. 6, is comprised of plug-inunits 81 having a series of buttonlight switches 78b spaced apart andarranged in horizontal rows, there being one for each room with a numberdesignation for the appropriate room adjacent to each button. A cashierspanel 13, FIG. 1, similar in construction and appearance to the maidsfloor panel 16 can be added to show room occupancy and even to transferstatus information, thus taking the place of buttonswitch 78a in clerksconsole. Such an arrangement might be desired by larger hotels having aseparate cashiers station. The present trend is to omit the cashierspanel; hence, it has not been presented in FIG. 2.

A housekeepers panel 18, as shown in FIG. 6, can be installed in thehousekeepers office and its construction and appearance are also similarto that of the cashiers panel and a maids floor panel. If maids floorpanels are not used, the housekeepers panel will have push-buttonindicator switches 78b, but if floor panels 16 are used in the system,the housekeepers panel will have indicator lights 780 without switches.

A further understanding of the system 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will beapparent by the following description of its operation. Normally, roomsthat are vacant and ready for occupancy will be indicated by appropriateilluminated lamps 50, column 78, FIG. 5A, only on the clerks console 11.When a guest checks in, the clerk momentarily depresses the particularilluminated button switch 78 at his panel for that room. This actiontemporarily breaks normally closed switch contacts 82 and 84, FIG. 2,and closes its normally open contacts 86 and 88. In this temporaryposition, the normally open counter circuit is closed through the lead44 to the (optional) counter 40 to register sale of the room. While thenormally closed contact is broken, the lamp circuit is interuptedcausing the light 50 to go out. Also, lead 93 is disconnected fromsupply lead 38, causing current to cease through the resistor 56aparallel with the corresponding occupancy lamp 50a. This causes theoccupancy lamp to ignite because of the resulting increase in voltage atthe occupancy lamp 50a to a level approximately equal to the dc. outputof the power supply 20, which is set above the firing voltage of alllamps. At this point, the light for this room at the housekeepers panel,(50c), and at the respective floor panel, (50b), as well as the clerk sconsole are all off or non-illuminating. The only lamp that is lightedto show room occupancy is the lamp 50a located on the front desk console11 and optional cashiers panel 13. When the guest is ready to leave andchecks out, the clerk or the cashier will depress his switch 78a for theparticular room. This momentarily moves the switch from its normallyclosed position, across contacts 82a,

84a to close normally open contacts 86a and 88a. Now, the countercircuit is closed to register vacancy of the room through these normallyopen contacts. With the breaking of the normally closed contacts, lead91 is disconnected and the occupancy lamp circuit is broken, causing thelamp 500 to go out. Also, the current is discontinued through theresistors 56b and 560 in parallel with corresponding lamps 50b and 500on the maids floor panel 16 and optional housekeepers panel 18.Discontinuing the current causes the lamps at these two stations toignite by the resulting increase in voltage across the lamps to a levelapproximately equal to the dc. output of the power supply 20 which hereagain exceeds the lamp firing voltage.

Thus, at this point, both the vacancy and occupancy lights and 50a onthe clerks console 11 are off and both the respective maids floor andhousekeeper panel lamps 50b and 50c are on" for this particular room.This display indicates to the maid and housekeeper that the room isvacated and requires maid service. When the room has been serviced andis again ready for occupancy, the maid will depress the illuminatedswitch 78b for the appropriate room on her particular floor panel. Thisaction temporarily opens the circuit through a lead to the enclosedilluminated lamp 50b as .well as the corresponding illuminated indicator500 on the housekeepers panel 18 and causes both lamps to extinguish.Also, actuation of the maids switch causes current to cease flowingthrough a continuation of the lead 90 connected to the parallel resistor56 in the corresponding vacancy lamp circuit for the clerks console. Bythe method previously described, the increased voltage applied to thevacancy lamp 50 causes it to ignite, thus completing the cycle. Whilethe maids switch 78b is in the depressed position, the normally opencircuit to the counter through the lead 48 is completed, thus providingdata to the counter on room availability. At the clerks station a bell92 may be provided which is connected by a pair of leads 94 and 96 to abell control circuit 98, having a transformer that draws power from theincoming a.c. lines 22 and 24 to operate the bell. Another pair of leads100 and 102 are connected to the dc. power lead 26 and the counter lead48, so that when the clerks on-off bell switch 104 is closed, the bellwill chime when a maids button switch 78b is depressed.

The system shown in FIG. 3 is essentially similar to that shown in FIG.1 in that it includes a clerks console 111, an optional cashiers panel113, and a power supply connected in a manner similar to power supply 20for system 10. However, each room on all floors is provided with aseparate room panel 122. All room panels on the same floor are connectedto a floor terminal panel 116. Floor terminal panels may or may notinclude indicators. In addition to floor terminal panels, a housekeeperspanel with indicators only 118 may also be included in the system 110 bybeing connected to all of the floor terminal panels. Each floor terminalpanel is essentially a junction point and provides connecting apparatusfor wires from room panels, housekeepers panel and clerks console oroptional cashiers panel.

FIG. 4, 4A and 4B show the circuitry of the system of FIG. 3. FIGS. 4Aand 4B show alternate forms of room panels embodying the principles ofthe present invention.

The operation of the system 110 shown in FIG. 3 is identical to thatshown in FIG. 1 with respect to clerks console 111 for a guest checkingin, guest checking out, and a vacant room made ready. The optionalcashiers panel 113 also operates in a manner similar to cashiers panel13 in system 10. The addition of the room panel adds afourth mode to theoperational sequence. In FIG. 4, a series of four leads A, B, C and Dare connected in parallel to all of the room panels. Lead (A) is thecommon positive dc. power lead; lead (D) is the common negative powerlead; lead (C) is connected to a conventional flasher unit 121 connectedto the negative power lead 128, whose function will be explained later.Lead (D) is connected to the counter 140 and bell equipment 198 in amanner similar to lead 48 in system 10, FIG. 2. In addition to theaforesaid common room panel leads A,B,C,D, each room panel is connectedto four or five individual leads, depending on the type of room'panelused, numbered (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) from the floor terminal panel116. I

The system of FIG. 4 is adapted for use with at least two types of roompanels. The room panel 122 shown in FIG. 4Aenables the maid to indicatewhen a vacant room is ready for inspection. The room panel 122a shown inFIG. 4B enables the maid to indicate her location during room clean up,whether occupied or not. As shown in FIG. 7A, both of these room panelsare comprised essentially of two momentary contact switches 124 and 127which are activated by a spring-loaded lever 131; a relay 130 thatengages a common flashing circuit 125; and an indicator 150d toillustrate room information. FIG. 7A shows the mechanical arrangement ofthe room panel mechanism with the lever 131 which is preferably keyoperated, covered by a face plate 129. FIG. 7 shows a typicalinstallation for a room panel 122 which is conveniently located in ahallway adjacent to the door of the room. The room panel can be locatedinside the room necessitating the need for a remote hallway indicator,1502.

In the circuit diagram of FIG. 4A, the switch 124 is shown in the openposition. When closed, it contacts a terminal 134 which completesa'circuit through lead 136 allowing current to flow through a limitingresistor and activates relay coil 140. The energized coil operates therelay 130 which moves the first relay arm to a normally open contact142, thereby completing a circuit through a lead 144 which continues tofurnish current to the relay coil 140, after the momentary switch 124 isreleased. A second arm of the relay is moved to a normally open contact146 which completes a flasher circuit 125 through a lead 148 to allhousekeeping indicators 150b, c, d and e. Also, as the relay isactuated, its third arm, connected to the negative d.c. supply, is movedfrom a normally closed contact 151 which causes current to cease flowingthrough all resistors 156b, c, d and e, connected in parallel to theroom panel indicator 150d and all other housekeeping lamps of the systemsuch as a hall indicator 150e, a floor terminal panel lamp 1500 if used,and housekeepers panel lamp 150b for that particular room. Now, as thethird switch arm engages a normally open contact 153, all of thesehousekeeping lamps, as well as the corresponding clerks console lamp,immediately begin flashing because this normally open contact isconnected to lead 148 of the flashing circuit.'The lamps current throughthis flashing circuit lead 148 is reduced by means of a resistor 152 inparallel with a capacitor 154. In accordance with the invention, allhousekeeping lamps 150b, 150c, 150d and 150e are connected to individualvoltage divider circuits which are in parallel and function aspreviously described for system 10 in FIG. 2. The voltage divider forthe room panel lamp 150d comprises a pair of resistors 156d and 158d inseries with a diode 166d. The voltage divider for the hall lamp 150ecomprises a pair of similar resistors l56e in series with another diode166e.

When two or more lamps are required to operate simultaneously theinsertion of a diode 66 or 166 in each voltage divider circuit isnecessary to prevent undesired reverse current flow. If one of a seriesof lamps in parallel ignites before the others, there is a reversecurrent flow through all of the voltage divider circuits connected tothe non-illuminated indicators. This reverse current flow may preventany of these lamps from igniting due to a resultant voltage drop acrossthe respective series resistors causing a drop in the applied lampigniting voltage. Insertion of the diode 66 or 166 in series with thelamps parallel resistor 56 or 156 will prevent this unwanted reversecurrent flow.

Considering operation of system 110 incorporating the room panel 122shown in FIG. 4A: When the maid has cleaned a vacated room she will callfor inspection by turning lever 131 with her key to the M" position,FIG. 7A, thereby depressing the first momentary contact switch 124. Therelay 130 will engage and hold, causing housekeeping and vacancy lampsto flash for that particular room. When the inspector approves thecleaned room, she will turn the lever to the H' position to activate thesecond momentary contact switch 127. This action breaks the circuit tothe relay coil as well as the circuit to the respective housekeepinglamps. Relay 130 now disengages and all the flashing lights for thatroom will go out, (including the cashiers lamp if on) except for theclerk s console vacancy lamp 150 which goes on. The vacancy lampignites, since the resistor 156 in parallel with the vacancy lamp isalso disconnected, causing the voltage across the lamp to increase, aspreviously described. While the momentary switch 127 designated H isactivated, the normally open circuit to the counter 140 is completed,thus providing data on room availability. Also, if the clerks bellswitch 104 is on, the bell will chime at the front desk.

In the circuit diagram of FIG. 4B, for the room panel 122a, the switch124a is also shown in the open position. When closed, its arm closes acontact 134a which completes a circuit through lead 136a. Thus, a relay1300 having only two switch arms is activated and remains energized inthesame manner as relay 130 in FIG. 4A. The normally open contact 142aof its first arm is closed and continues to supply current to the relaycoil 140a after the momentary switch 124a is released.

As in the circuit diagram of FIG. 4A, a second arm of the relay 130a inthe circuit of FIG. 4B is moved from the negative d.c. supply to anormally open contact 146a which completes a flasher circuit throughlead 148a to all housekeeping lamps for that particular room. Now theselamps will flash. These flashing lamps are shut off by depressing theflashing room panel pushbutton indicator switch 172 (150d of FIG. 7A).Activating this switch closes a pair of contacts 174 thereby shortingthe coil of relay 130a, causing it to disengage.

This push-button indicator switch also has a set of normally closedcontacts 176 which open to disconnect the negative d.c. supply to insurethat'all previously flashing indicators for that room will remain off.These flashing lamps can also be shut off by activating the switch 127ausing a key to actuate the lever 131. This breaks normally closedcircuit and disconnects the relay coil circuit from the negative cl.c.supply, causing the relay a to return to its normal position. Also, theopening of the normally closed contact of switch 127a breaks thenegative dc voltage to the housekeeping and cashiers lamps for thatparticular room, causing them to go out, as with switch 127 in roompanel 122. The resistor 156 in parallel with the vacancy lamp 150 forthat room is also disconnected thereby causing this lamp to turn on inaccordance with the principles of the invention. The normally opencontact of this switch is made causing the clerks bell to chime ifdesired and registering occupancy information at the front desk.

The room panel illustrated by FIG. 4B does not incorporate a roominspection feature like the room panel illustrated by FIG. 4A. When themaid begins servicing either an occupied or vacant room, she will turnthe lever 131, FIG. 7A, to the M position, depressing the firstmomentary contact switch 124a, the relay 130a will engage and hold,causing the light 15041 to flash at the room panel 122a and remoteindicator light 150, as well as corresponding lights at the housekeeperspanel 15Gb and at a floor terminal panel having indicators 150C, (maidsfloor panel). Unlike the room panel 122 illustrated in FIG. 4A, thevacancy light 150 will not flash at the clerks console for thatparticular room. Whether the room is vacant or occupied, thisinformation remains undisturbed at the front desk. When the maid hascompleted room servicing, she depresses the flashing button-light 150dmechanically connected to the switch 172 on the room panel causing allcorresponding flashing lights to extinguish by disrupting the relay coiland lamp circuits. If the room is vacant, the lever 131 is turned to theH position, activating the second mementary contact switch 127a. As wellas accomplishing the functions of the depressed button-light, thecircuit to the resistor 156 in parallel with they clerks lamp 150 isbroken causing it to light. Also, the normally open circuit to thecounter is completed, thus providing data on room availability, as wellas chiming the clerks bell 192 if turned on. The room panel shown inFIG. 4B normally has five control leads and four leads in common withthe other room panels. The two types of room panels are not compatiblefor use simultaneously since flashing information would not bedifferentiated.

If desired, the room panel shown in FIGS. 4A and 48 can be adapted tohandle added features such as remote hallway indicator lights e, fire orT.V. theft detection devices 180, and telephone message indicators (notshown). 7

An alarm detector 180 controlled by any suitable sensor can be connectedto either room panel, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 48, so that the indicatorfor the room in distress will flash rapidly at the clerk's console.Also, an alarm will sound. The rapidly flashing lamp can be readilydistinguished from the normal flashing lamp.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that the present inventionprovides a unique and highly versatile room status system for hotels andthe like. The

combination of the neon indicator lamps in the various panels and theirvoltage divider controls makes possible relatively simple but reliableinstallation providing fast, convenient and positive communication thatgreatly enhances the efficiency of hotel operations. These long lastingneon lamps used throughout the system increase reliability, reducemaintenance. They allow the panels at the various stations to berelatively small and easily understood, since each room is representedby just one illuminated button. Face plates on the panels can be easilyremoved, making cleaning trouble-free and easily done withoutinterference to hotel operation. Expensive field servicing is eliminatedbecause the relative simplicity of the circuits will permit modularconstruction and thus fast replacement of any component. Shock and fireare prevented. A UL. approved ground fault circuit interrupter andovercurrent protection provide split second safety. Installation costscan be low for new or existing structures using pre-assembled plug-incables and pre-wired components, and the system can be enlarged in theevent of hotel expansion.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, manychanges in construction and widely differing embodiments andapplications of the invention will suggest themselves without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and thedescription herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be inany sense limiting.

I claim:

1. A signalling system for an institution having a central station and aplurality of locations remote from said central station comprising:

a central panel means at said central station including a first andsecond switch means and a first and second visual indicator means foreach said remote location, and a power source;

a remote panel means located away from said center station including athird switch means and a third visual means for each said remotereporting locations; energized by said central power source;

said signalling system being adapted to report and direct the status atthe respective stations in a predetermined sequential order; and

each of said first, second and third visual indicator means comprisingan ionizing gas glow lamp and a control circuit with switch; wherebymomentary activation of said first switch means momentarily reducesapplied voltage at said first lamp to a level below minimum voltagenecessary for continued ionization, as well as momentarily increasingapplied voltage at said second lamp to a level above the minimum voltagenecessary for initial ionization; momentary activation of said secondswitch means momentarily reduces applied voltage at said second lamp toa level below minimum voltage necessary for continued ionization, aswell as momentarily increasing applied voltage at said third lamp to alevel above the miminum voltage necessary for initial ionization;momentary activation of said third switch means momentarily reducesapplied voltage at said third lamp to a level below minimum voltagenecessary for continued ionization, as well as momentarily increasingapplied voltage at said first lamp to a level above the minimum voltagenecessary for initial ionization.

2. A sequential signalling system as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidcontrol circuit means for each said visual indicator applies a voltageto said gas glow lamp at a level above the minimum voltage necessary forcontinued ionization and below the minimum voltage necessary for initialionization; wherein the aforesaid condition prevails during inactivationof said switch means; whereby said gas glow lamp will remain of or ondependent upon the previous activation of said switch means.

3. The system as described in claim 2 wherein all of the visualindicators for all of the panels comprise indicating lamps; where thehighest operating voltage for any said indicating lamp is below thelowest turn-on voltage for any other said indicating lamp.

4. The system as described in claim 3 wherein said control circuit meansfor each visual indicator-switch means comprises a voltage dividercircuit including a first resistor in parallel with said gas glow lampand a second resistor in series with said lamp; said associatedcontrollable switch means at the remote location being connected toremove said first resistor electrically from the circuit and therebyincrease the voltage at said lamp above the initial ionization levelwhile the controllable switch means is being actuated.

5. A signalling system as set forth in claim 4 with additional panelmeans including visual indicator means to duplicate informationdisplayed by said first, second or third indicator means, or acombination thereof; and each said additional visual indicator means isconnected in parallel to first, second or third visual indicator meansand comprises a voltage divider circuit including a first resistor inparallel with said additional gas glow lamp and a second resistor inseries with said additional lamp; and each said first resistor of allsaid paralleled lamps includes a current rectifying device forpreventing reverse current flow, thereby insuring that all said parallellamps representative of a particular reporting station will light whentheir respective control circuits are uniformly actuated by theactivation of a particular switch means.

6. A signalling system as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of saidthird visual indicator means, said control circuit means, and said thirdswitch means is located at a different remote panel; each of said remotepanels disposed at locations remote from one another.

1. A signalling system for an institution having a central station and aplurality of locations remote from said central station comprising: acentral panel means at said central station including a first and secondswitch means and a first and second visual indicator means for each saidremote location, and a power source; a remote panel means located awayfrom said center station including a third switch means and a thirdvisual means for each said remote reporting locations; energized by saidcentral power source; said signalling system being adapted to report anddirect the status at the respective stations in a predeterminedsequential order; and each of said first, second and third visualindicator means comprising an ionizing gas glow lamp and a controlcircuit with switch; whereby momentary activation of said first switchmeans momentarily reduces applied voltage at said first lamp to a levelbelow minimum voltage necessary for continued ionization, as well asmomentarily increasing applied voltage at said second lamp to a levelabove the minimum voltage necessary for initial ionization; momentaryactivation of said second switch means momentarily reduces appliedvoltage at said second lamp to a level below minimum voltage necessaryfor continued ionization, as well as momentarily increasing appliedvoltage at said third lamp to a level above the miminum voltagenecessary for initial ionization; momentary activation of said thirdswitch means momentarily reduces applied voltage at said third lamp to alevel below minimum voltage necessary for continued ionization, as wellas momentarily increasing applied voltage at said first lamp to a levelabove the minimum voltage necessary for initial ionization.
 2. Asequential signalling system as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidcontrol circuit means for each said visual indicator applies a voltageto said gas glow lamp at a level above the minimum voltage necessary forcontinued ionization and below the minimum voltage necessary for initialionization; wherein the aforesaid condition prevails during inactivationof said switch means; whereby said gas glow lamp will remain ''''off''''or ''''on'''' dependent upon the previous activation of said switchmeans.
 3. The system as described in claim 2 wherein all of the visualindicators for all of the panels comprise indicating lamps; where thehighest operating voltage for any said indicating lamp is below thelowest turn-on voltage for any other said indicating lamp.
 4. The systemas described in claim 3 wherein said control circuit means for eachvisual indicator-switch means comprises a voltage divider circuitincluding a first resistor in parallel with said gas glow lamp and asecond resistor in series with said lamp; said associated controllableswitch means at the remote location being connected to remove said firstresistor electrically from the circuit and thereby increase the voltageat said lamp above the initial ionization level while the controllableswitch means is being actuated.
 5. A signalling system as set forth inclaim 4 with additional panel means including visual indicator means toduplicate information displayed by said first, second or third indicatormeans, or a combination thereof; and each said additional visualindicator means is connected in parallel to first, second or thirdvisual indicator means and comprises a voltage divider circuit includinga first resistor in parallel with said additional gas glow lamp and asecond resistor in series with said additional lamp; and each said firstresistor of all said paralleled lamps includes a current rectifyingdevice for preventing reverse current flow, thereby insuring that allsaid parallel lamps representative of a particular reporting stationwill light when their respective control circuits are uniformly actuatedby the activation of a particular switch means.
 6. A signalling systemas set forth in claim 5 wherEin each of said third visual indicatormeans, said control circuit means, and said third switch means islocated at a different remote panel; each of said remote panels disposedat locations remote from one another.